Sundus al-Azza, 19, had passed through metal detectors at an Israeli checkpoint but was called back to be patted down by Israeli soldiers, locals said.

Al-Azza demanded that a female soldier carry out the search, as is normal protocol, but the soldiers insisted on doing it themselves. The woman then shouted for help and locals in the area immediately rushed to her assistance.

"Young men from the neighborhood attempted to stop the soldiers who were harassing the girl, a fistfight broke out between both sides before several residents took to the street in protest," local resident Mufeed Sharabati told Ma'an.

As news of the incident spread, dozens of men flooded the area and hurled stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who responded with tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets.

The governor of Hebron, Kamil Hmeid, arrived at the scene with officials from the Palestinian Liaison office to investigate the situation.